Our Guide To Finding The Best Bowflex Machine For Your Home

Bowflex revolutionized the home gym. A big issue with most home gyms is lack of space. Finding space for dumbbells, barbells, a workout bench, legs extension machine and various other equipment is seemingly impossible in most homes.

Bowflex Blaze Home Gym	Our favorite for 2020
Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym	A great value option
Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym	We’re big fans of the PR3000

And the only other option people had was to spend money on a monthly gym membership.

Bowflex models changed all of this. One of the first “true” home gyms, the Bowflex allows for dozens of different exercises to be performed in the comfort of your home with the space that a small flat or studio apartment offers.

Choosing the right Bowflex home gym for you will require you to pay special attention to the following features:

• Exercise Availability: Home gyms need to offer the most exercises possible. A machine with 50 exercises offers superior potential compared to a model that offers only 20 exercise options.
• Resistance Levels: The amount of resistance available will range from 100 pounds to 300+ pounds. And you need to choose a suitable fitness level for your needs. Most people will fall within the maximum range of up to 210 pounds of resistance.
• Space Requirements: Even with a Bowflex, there are stringent space requirements that need to be assessed. Every model will list their own space requirements so that you know if the machine will fit properly in your space.

Bowflex offers a variety of models to fit into a wide range of budgets and to fill a wide range of fitness needs. We’ve rounded out the top five models on the market for you.

Bowflex Comparison Reviews

Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym – The PR3000 offers 50 strength exercises from lat pull downs to bench presses and leg extensions. Able to accommodate users of up to 300 pounds, the 3000 is made for users of all sizes and fitness levels.

This machine requires a workout area of 100”x 78”, and resistance levels go from as low as 5 pounds to as high as 210 pounds.

Featuring a no-cable design, you can switch between exercises effortlessly to keep your heart pounding all throughout your workout. You can upgrade to a 310 maximum resistance if you outgrow the 210-pound weight. And you can adjust the machine to various different sizes, making this machine perfect for users of all sizes – small and large.

Bowflex Blaze Home Gym – Bowflex’s Blaze is a home gym that offers workouts for all major muscle groups. There are 60 different exercises that can be done with the Blaze, and a lower pulley system allows you to perform deep, full-range-of-motion squats.

Taking up a space of just 90” x 83” x 38”, this machine offers full leg extensions and a curl attachment to work your quadriceps and hamstrings.

Power rod technology offers a base maximum weight of 210 pounds, and you can upgrade to 310 and 410 pounds. The Blaze offers everything you could want in a home gym. Users can quickly change between exercises, and the resistance provides the most time under tension possible to build your muscles faster.

Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym – Bowflex’s PR1000 is a very affordable home gym. In terms of being budget-friendly, this model can offer 30 exercise variations along with a horizontal bench press and a lat pull down.

A lower pulley allows for lower-leg exercises, and the minimum workout area needed for this machine is 100” x 78”.

Working from 5 pounds to 210 pounds of resistance, users of up to 300 pounds can use the PR 1000 to lose weight, build muscle, and stay in impeccable shape. A built-in rowing system is included as well as leg curl and extension exercises.

Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home Gym – Pricing keeps the Xtreme 2SE from being one of the most favored Bowflex machines, but it may also be one of the most complete home gyms on the market. Featuring 70 different workout options, you’ll be able to work all of your muscles from your biceps and triceps to your quadriceps and chest.

Resistance maximums range from five to 210 pounds. You can buy upgrades to increase the maximum resistance up to 310 and 410 pounds.

A lat tower and bar allow you to work your back and shoulder muscles, while there is a bar you can place on your back while doing squats. Workout area is 96” x 78”. If you’re on the market for the most complete home gym, the 2SE is an exceptional option.

Bowflex BodyTower – The BodyTower is unlike all of the home gyms listed thus far, but it is more of a budget model than the others on the list. Featuring 20 exercise options, you’ll be able to do dips, knee and leg raises, sit-ups, push-ups, squats and more on this machine.

Measuring 50” x 77” x 50”, this machine requires you to use your bodyweight for resistance – not resistance rods like the other machines.

Anyone that is motivated and wants to use their own body weight as resistance will find that this machine does the job extremely well. And you’ll be able fit it in a rather small space – perfect for smaller homes or apartments.

Buyer’s Guide –  How To Choose The Right Bowflex Home Gym For You

All of these home gyms can provide an exceptional workout, and there are a lot of aspects that you’ll need to consider before making your purchase. The right home gym for you needs to be able to help you reach your fitness goals while also being affordable.

When buying a Bowflex home gym, consider:

• Price: The price of the model typically reflects the amount of exercises that are able to be performed on one machine. You’ll be able to enjoy the same great Bowflex quality and resistance, but the more workouts that are available, the better overall muscle-growth potential you’ll have.
• Type: Many machines offer upper body workouts, but they’ll lack lower body workouts. If you want to build your quads, hamstrings and glutes, you’ll want to choose a machine that allows you to perform squats and a variety of leg exercises.
• Quality: All of the models listed come from Bowflex, so they’re on top of the durability list. The one point I want to make has to do with the leg extension and curl machine attachments. Many of these models will offer different cushion thicknesses, and you’ll want to choose a higher thickness, often 2” or higher, so that you can comfortably perform these exercises.

Bowflex is a great company that wants to accommodate as many users as possible. With that said, you’ll want to make sure that the model you choose can be adjusted for small and larger users. Attention must also be put on the weight limit allowed on the machine, normally 300 pounds, if you’re a larger user.

Interested in a Bowflex home gym? Check out our other in depth Bowflex comparisons –

Blaze vs PR3000
PR3000 vs PR1000
Blaze vs Xtreme 2 Se